Yet Another Zombie Defense HD
Yet Another Zombie Defense HD
Game
Game2023
Nocturnal
Developer Sunnyside Games
Carve your way with fire and steel to find out what secrets lie beyond the Mist in this intense 2-hour-long action-platformer game. Get ready to wield the flames and burn everything! From the Steam store page
349 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 4, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
92
LovedLoved
286 positive · 25 negative
95% range 88–94%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 286 | 25 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 7 | 0 | 26 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,803 of 1,936 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
93% recommend · 238 yes, 19 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 257 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (5,000 of 5,306 positive).
Players praise Nocturnal as a short, atmospheric action platformer with smooth combat and a clever fire mechanic. [1][2][3] Many note it is a free game that feels polished and worth playing, especially for its length. [1][4][5] Some reviewers criticize screen shake and visual issues that hinder accessibility or clarity. [6][7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [6]
This looks like a fun game but there's no way to turn off the screen shake every time you use the attack button. It's just a constant barrage of screen shakes. Immediate headache. Super disappointed, this is like basic accessibility.
- [1]
I know a lot of people are probably not expecting good free games anymore considering the bunch of slop given for free lately on steam, but trust me, this game wont disappoint. The gameplay is so smooth, the atmosphere is great, the music is fitting, it's definitely a must try. Looking forward to the sequel!
- [2]
I went into Nocturnal mostly on a whim and ended up really enjoying it. It’s one of those short games that just knows exactly what it wants to do and sticks to it. The fire mechanic is honestly the highlight - it’s not just a gimmick, it actually shapes how you move, fight, and explore. There’s something really satisfying about keeping your flame alive while everything around you is trying to snuff it out. The whole …
- [3]
Nocturnal is an atmospheric 2d platformer with emphasis on swordplay. The controls were tight and I loved how the movement felt. The fights were exciting. Even fleeing from an invincible enemy, in this case a shadow wall, something I usually dislike, was well done. The story felt too simple at first, rescue your sister, but it got more intriguing. The pixel art was very good. I especially liked how the bodies were …
- [4]
An interesting, short relaxing, beautiful, and fast-paced game — thanks to the developers for being so generous and giving this gem away for free. YOU HAVE TO GET IT!
Summarised from 34 of the 295 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Nocturnal sits at 92% positive across 311 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
60 of 349 · most liked firstI know a lot of people are probably not expecting good free games anymore considering the bunch of slop given for free lately on steam, but trust me, this game wont disappoint. The gameplay is so smooth, the atmosphere is great, the music is fitting, it's definitely a must try. Looking forward to the sequel!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →---{ Graphics }--- ☐ You forget what reality is ☐ Beautiful ☑ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ☐ MS-DOS ---{ Gameplay }--- ☐ Masterpiece ☐ Very good ☑ Good ☐ It's just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Watch paint dry instead ☐ Just don't ---{ Audio }--- ☐ Eargasm ☐ Very good ☐ Good ☑ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ I'm now deaf ---{ Audience }--- ☐ Kids ☑ Teens ☑ Adults ☐ Grandma ---{ PC Requirements }--- ☐ Check if you can run Paint ☐ Potato ☑ Decent ☐ Fast ☐ Rich boi ☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This looks like a fun game but there's no way to turn off the screen shake every time you use the attack button. It's just a constant barrage of screen shakes. Immediate headache. Super disappointed, this is like basic accessibility.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An interesting, short relaxing, beautiful, and fast-paced game — thanks to the developers for being so generous and giving this gem away for free. YOU HAVE TO GET IT!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Day 6 - Deyanira Katrece and her beloved Jaciel Morgen, both Daedra in service to Nocturnal (TESL: Battlespire, 1997). Their relationship was implied in game and confirmed in an article in 2004, making them the first canonical same-sex couple in TES.
neutral · AI labelView post →I grabbed this game for free rn n its def the best free game ive gotten all year. Its playtimes only around two hrs long, n I beat it in my free time one afternoon. The art style fits my taste perfectly. firelight mixed with dark fog has a nice abstract look. If the next part keeps all its good sides n adds more basic mechanics, its gonna be way more fun n successful than this one.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you're a pyromaniac that's afraid of the dark, this game's for you! But yeah, super fun! At Free.99 I can HIGHLY recommend this game, and am now looking forward to the sequel!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Let's play a game! Taylor Swift lyrics, or title of a paper I'm a coauthor on? 1) "Nocturnal and crepuscular behavior in elasmobranchs: a review of movement, habitat use, foraging, and reproduction in the dark" 2) "I'm fine with my spite, and my tears, and my beers, and my candles"
neutral · AI labelView post →I know a lot of people are probably not expecting good free games anymore considering the bunch of slop given for free lately on steam, but trust me, this game wont disappoint. The gameplay is so smooth, the atmosphere is great, the music is fitting, it's definitely a must try. Looking forward to the sequel!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's really not a BAD game, but I think in the end it hovers around 5-6/10 for myself. While I appreciate the use of HDR to enhance the visuals and even play into the platforming, it often made some of the sections difficult to get through (I had to rety or go back and forth a few areas repeatedly because I just want seeing where to go or what to trigger). Luckily it is short, and the combat is decent when you aren't swarmed. I'm surprised I got 100% completion given my criticisms.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unravel the mysteries of the mind in the #FMVGame 'Nocturnal Whispers' starring @felicia.day. Play as a psychoanalyst drawn into a chilling journey to help a woman haunted by nightmares. Play now on Steam & PlayStation. Pre-order today on Xbox. store.steampowered.com/app/3121860/...
neutral · AI labelView post →a masterpiece the artsyle is amazing and beautiful the combat is smooth, fluid, responsive, and really fun
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Trial Of The Pen For A Sequel ‘Nocturnal’ is a tiny game that can be finished in two hours (three – in case you go for all the secrets and achievements that are very easy to get). In fact, this is not really a game but rather a draft of a game, Nocturnal 2. Its developer saw what great success ‘House Flipper’ and ‘Grave Keeper’ got with the strategy of free gifting the first games when their sequels were about to come out. Such a strategy worked miraculously both for the players and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I went into Nocturnal mostly on a whim and ended up really enjoying it. It’s one of those short games that just knows exactly what it wants to do and sticks to it. The fire mechanic is honestly the highlight - it’s not just a gimmick, it actually shapes how you move, fight, and explore. There’s something really satisfying about keeping your flame alive while everything around you is trying to snuff it out. The whole light vs darkness vibe works surprisingly well. One small thing I really…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Claimed this game for free about ten days ago. Most “free to keep” games are usually shovelware drifting in the bargain-bin abyss, but this one is genuinely a gem. The game isn’t very long, and you can get 100% achievements in around three hours. If you grabbed it for free but never launched it, definitely give it a try.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is very mediocre game, and with them announcing the 2nd game, it became clear the 1st one was just a tech-demo with a price label on top of it. Get it for 3$~5$ max if you're interested. That being said, Gorgeous graphics, and gorgeous smoke physics. Absolutely smashing programming right there, kudos.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Metroidvania fans, rejoice 🎉 The sequel to the beautifully-set, award-winning, fire-fighting, side-scrolling platformer Nocturnal is nearly here. (Localized by LocQuest in 8 languages) 🔥 Shoutout to Sunnyside Games for this fun one! Demo out now on Steam, full game releasing soon! 🔜
neutral · AI labelView post →"We got the whole game" *had to pay more for the Nocturnal missions in Wolfenstein 3D, had to pay more for the Knuckles cart addon for Sonic 3, had to pay more for the 100th edition of Street Fighter II, had to pay for internet to download additional content for games*
neutral · AI labelView post →So cool game. Thanks to developers to gave it to free. Going to buy secont game when realese. The first game in that type if setting, so very interesting. Will try anorter games like this
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So I had the idea of doing a sort of light and dark deal because of Astrologian's (former) dichotomy between Diurnal and Nocturnal, and this is the result. I'm pretty pleased with how this game out, and I wanna do more interesting things like this. | #TonberryPoses | #GPoses | #XIVPOC | #Elezen |
neutral · AI labelView post →---{ Graphics }--- ☐ You forget what reality is ☐ Beautiful ☑ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ☐ MS-DOS ---{ Gameplay }--- ☑ Very good ☐ Good ☐ It's just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Watch paint dry instead ☐ Just don't ---{ Audio }--- ☐ Eargasm ☐ Very good ☑ Good ☐ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ I'm now deaf ---{ Audience }--- ☑ Kids ☑ Teens ☑ Adults ☐ Grandma ---{ PC Requirements }--- ☐ Check if you can run paint ☑ Potato ☐ Decent ☐ Fast ☐ Rich boi ☐ Ask NASA…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's alright! Combat has an enjoyable flow and the game looks and feels nice (although visuals often make it kind of difficult to read the combat). Feels a little sloppy some places. Issues that drive me slightly insane include: - Why is it a hold input to open the skill tree or read a document but it's not a hold input to actually spend your points on something. - Why do your inputs just randomly get eaten sometimes? Are inputs not buffered during hitstop? It's never clear. - The camera…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Throwback to this review because the game is currently on sale for under $2. Nocturnal 2 is set to release this year and a demo will be available starting next week. www.deargamers.net/reviews/noct...
neutral · AI labelView post →Pay-What-You-Want CH2e Jumpstart available now: A 3-page overview of CH2e's core mechanics A 5-page jumpstart investigation, “Nocturnal Rites”, guides both the Game Moderator and the Players through the core mechanics of play Two pre-generated characters www.drivethrurpg.com/product/1991...
neutral · AI labelView post →There is no mention of these facts anywhere. While I get they may be intentional for "story" reasons, but wish i had an headsup. - There is no saving (until game is beaten and levels can be replayed), so i spent an hour and decided to take a break and find out my game is wiped. - Any upgrades/resources you find are wiped if you die or manually use the "restart from checkpoint", wish the menu option gave you a headsup before wiping your entire character at a press of a button.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i enjoyed every sec of it. The music and story were great. its short but complete
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hades 2 Nocturnal Arms sticker sheet 🔮 ✨ Been loving the game since the full release, big fan of the sister blades. which weapon’s your favorite?
neutral · AI labelView post →Nocturnal enemy type: I created it in 2024; since the game features a real-time day-night cycle, the time has come to put it into action! #screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev #gaz_a_way_out youtu.be/wFrok3dZk9Y
neutral · AI labelView post →short but actually a good game. combat was easy, platforming were simple. Story was simple. Like the art style. 3.5/5
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun little game - short but well executed. Works well as a platformer with old Prince of Persia vibes and a simplistic mechanic that is used well throughout. Only around 2 hours, but worth a playthrough, especially if you grab it while its free.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →On our Friday stream and a special BONUS Saturday stream we tried 11 new game demos from Steam NEXTFEST! Truckful Airframe Ultra Super Alloy Crush Cicadamata Nocturnal 2 Replaced Pluto Lucid Enter the Chronosphere Mayor May Knott Everything is Crab Here's our thoughts on each demo~ (1/13)
neutral · AI labelView post →Thankfully no hangover after last night's Nik Nocturnal Awards drinking game. My girls here still expect me to bring them hay, whether I feel like it or not. #cabininthewoods
neutral · AI labelView post →Nocturnal is an atmospheric 2d platformer with emphasis on swordplay. The controls were tight and I loved how the movement felt. The fights were exciting. Even fleeing from an invincible enemy, in this case a shadow wall, something I usually dislike, was well done. The story felt too simple at first, rescue your sister, but it got more intriguing. The pixel art was very good. I especially liked how the bodies were done and how you could "cremate" them. The originality in the game was how fire…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very fun must play little action platformer if you are looking for short games to play. Somehow, I had to lock in for some of the encounters, lol.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →VN devs, let's share our works together! quote this with 4 screenshots from your game and a link to it✨ NOCTURNAL FALLACY is a lore-intensive GL kinetic novel where you spend an intimate night with your coworkers 😳 🔗: saxifraga.itch.io/nocturnal-fa...
neutral · AI labelView post →Tiny Game Mini Review Nocturnal by Sunnyside Games (3.25hrs) 🎨 Gorgeous hand-drawn artsyle ⚔️ Fun combat and platforming - probably would have benefited from being a little more difficult 🔥 Cool mechanic where you had to keep your sword lit by fire to damage enemies and solve puzzles
positive · AI labelView post →Steam 100% completion #36 - Nocturnal 🏆 Fun 2-ish hour Action platformer game well worth the experience. Story was okay but to me it was more about the fun dark and light mechanic using fire to light up areas, and the decent combat. Very easy 100%
positive · AI labelView post →Nocturnal II for PC launches November 10 www.gematsu.com/2026/09/noct...
neutral · AI labelView post →Going live today at 4PM CT to check out the new demo drop for Sunnyside Games' Nocturnal 2, an upcoming Metroidvania inspired by Persian culture & you get to wield a fire sword! Stream: twitch.tv/EarthToThien Game: store.steampowered.com/app/2847780/... #indiegames #ad
neutral · AI labelView post →Played a shitload of Hades II today (how about that sixth Nocturnal Arms????) while the Bills game was on and I'll never get over them being in their "played objectively bullshit football, still scored 30+ and won" era
neutral · AI labelView post →Playing Nocturnal. Claimed it for free on Steam a while ago and it's a pretty fun little game
positive · AI labelView post →A very short but really cool game with great mechanics Really enjoyed it ! It was interesting from the beginning, had a cool vibe, and kept me hooked the whole time. Definitely worth checking out. and I'm definitely going to buy the next game too.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →>this was actually a great game >fluid movement good gameplay >they said it will be 2hr action packed and it was >the best part was power trip at end of the game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nocturnal proves that a game doesn't need to be 80+ hours long to be a satisfying experience. It's a very short and sweet action platformer that's engaging from start to finish. The gameplay feels great and the art style/atmosphere looks amazing, especially when you're whipping your fiery blade in the shadows against enemies or building a path. Additionally, the level selection screen makes replaying previous zones super convenient as well. My only issue was finishing the game just a few…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A pretty good indie game. I love the art style, every zone feels and looks phenomenal. The gameplay is also really good. I'm excited to see what Nocturnal 2 will be like when its fully released.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nocturnal has beautiful visuals, smooth combat, and a unique fire mechanic that makes the gameplay feel fresh. Short but very enjoyable experience.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really enjoyed this one. It’s not a long game, but it doesn’t try to be — everything feels tight and intentional. The whole fire mechanic is simple but actually adds a lot to how you move and fight, and the atmosphere carries it the whole way through. It’s one of those games that just feels clean and focused from start to finish. Definitely worth the time!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short But fun Platformer, only real complaint is some of the ability controls are kinda weird
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game looks really good, not gonna lie. The environments and overall style are honestly the best part. But the gameplay just didn’t click for me. The whole fire mechanic sounds cool at first, but it quickly turns into just running around lighting torches again and again. You’re also forced to keep the flame alive all the time, and with the timer, it starts to feel more annoying than fun. There’s also barely any progression. The skill tree is super minimal. After a while it just feels…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Stunning art work and devs should be congratulated on the beautiful flame effect. I found story kept me interested also. Has potential but unfortunately traversal and combat are average and being the mainstay for most of the game it just didn’t do enough to warrant a thumbs up from me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A side-scroller action-platformer that reminds me of Foregone back in the day. Got this for free on April 23rd. You play as Ardeshir, one of remaining soldiers of the Enduring Flame, coming home to Nahran — has been corrupted by the Mist — to find his little sister. The good element in this game is the combat. It was pretty fun. Fire is your main element. Your blade can ignite the environments, lit torches to activate mechanism, destroy mist creatures, and it can heals you. Story-wise is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short, sweet and to the point. Nocturnal is a good showcase of how a game can be built around a central mechanic. The game overall feels highly fluid and while the platforming felt a little floaty at times, I always felt like this game is begging to be speedrun. Sadly, not my area of expertise at all! Either way, I think Sunnyside games really showed their creativity here and while I received this game for free via Steam, I can't wait to see what they put out and come up with with the second…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nocturnal Rating: 6/10 – Fine Nocturnal is a game that I randomly clicked Add to Library on when it was free and then promptly forgot about until a few months later when I decided to play it after wondering: ”How the hell did this get in my library?”. While it isn’t anything Amazing in my opinion the game does offer a short and fun experience. The visuals of the game are Great, absolutely gorgeous with some beautiful backgrounds and very nicely designed characters and enemies. I really…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Charming game. 9/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It feels less like a full game and more like a strong prototype for something bigger and that's not a bad thing. By the end, my hype for a sequel went way up. Recommended if you're okay with a tight, focused experience rather than a long one. Hoping for a Nocturnal 2.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a good indie game, short but good nonetheless and it was fun finding the shrines
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nocturnal stands as a distinctive and creative game that brings its own identity without revolutionizing the medium as a whole. It offers an engaging and rewarding setting that holds appeal throughout. Its well-crafted gameplay loop feels smooth and seamlessly put together, providing several hours of enjoyable play. It is a solid pick worth considering if you are a fan of the genre or simply curious to try something new in this style.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Epic game. It reminds me of Mega Man Zero and the Prince of Persia game series. Although short, the combination of everything delivers a great game experience. From the art style, short but sweet dialogues and letters, character game mechanics, skill tree leveling, in-game interactions with objects, soundtrack and a heart-felt story. A great game for anyone to experience. I'm looking forward to playing Nocturnal II. Thank you for the game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No way can I recommend this game for the price they're actually asking, which is still 17 bucks. It was actually free yesterday for some reason. And for a free game? A demo more or less, this is ... fine, but it's also not very good. It's a pretty basic combat platformer that is centered around lighting your sword with fire to gain access to healing and combat abilities (healing extinguishes the fire, though, so you need another light source). Enemies are invulnerable if you're not on fire,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short but very curated, so every section is fun with absolutely no filler and perfect pacing. After the main story there is no game+ (i wish there was, with stronger enemies), but its possible to select each chapter to replay with full skillset and hunt secret rooms. Only negative was that sometimes controller inputs were not very responsive, but i'm using a wireless one, so it could be that or the absence of input buffering. I bought it at heavy discount (1,70€) and obviously is incredibly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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